Device holder for fitting in a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device holder assembly for use in a vehicle includes a compartment having a top side opening, a device holder attached to the compartment for holding a mobile electronics device, and a closure attached to the compartment. The holder is movable with respect to the compartment between a storage position in which the holder is stored within the compartment and a use position in which the holder extends out from the compartment. The closure is movable relative to the top side of the compartment along lateral sides of the compartment between an opened position in which the closure opens the compartment, an intermediate closed position in which the closure substantially closes the compartment while the holder is in its use position extending out from the compartment, and a fully closed position in which the closure fully closes the compartment while the holder is in its storage position within the compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of International ApplicationPCT/EP2007/001491, published in German, with an international filingdate of Feb. 21, 2007, which claims priority to DE 10 2006 008 420.9,filed Feb. 23, 2006, the disclosures of which are both herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device holder to be installed in avehicle for holding a mobile electronics device such as anentertainment, communication, data-processing, or information device.

2. Background Art

Mobile electronics devices such as telephones, navigation systems,entertainment devices, and data-processing devices are findingincreasing use in vehicles as an alternative to permanently installeddevices. Advantages of mobile devices include users being able to usethe devices while in and out of vehicles and outdated devices may bereplaced by new devices without complicated vehicle installationoperations.

A device holder holds a mobile device inserted therein. The holder isinstalled in a vehicle to mechanically connect the device held in theholder to the vehicle. The device may be electrically connected viacables to a power network or other devices of the vehicle. For example,a mobile telephone held in a holder installed in a vehicle may beelectrically connected to a hands-free device installed in the vehicle.One type of holder is installed in a vehicle by being attached to thevehicle windshield or dashboard via a suction cup. A second type ofholder is installed in a vehicle by being wedged inside ventilationopenings of the vehicle passenger compartment. Problems with the secondtype of holder include air flow being obstructed by either the holder orby the device held in the holder and the cables being exposed.

A problem with typical holders installed in vehicles include thefollowing. Such holders may be perceived as being recognizableretrofitted accessories. Such holders which are to be attached to thedashboard do not match the design of the dashboard. Guiding cables froma mobile device held in such a holder to vehicle-side connection pointsis sometimes problematic as the cables may have to be attached to theholder and/or the dashboard.

In order to prevent the risk of theft of a mobile device mounted in adevice holder in a vehicle that is parked, a vehicle operator usuallyremoves the device from the holder and then stows or carries away thedevice. However, simply removing the device is not a sufficientdeterrent to break-ins because a thief noticing from the outside thatthe holder is in the vehicle may assume that a device to be held by theholder has merely been removed from the holder but is still located inthe vehicle such as in the glove compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention includes a device holder to beinstalled in a vehicle for holding a mobile electronics device in whichthe device holder does not have the problems associated with typicaldevice holders.

In carrying out the above object and other objects, the presentinvention provides a device holder assembly for use in a vehicle. Thedevice holder assembly includes a compartment, a device holder, and acompartment closure. The compartment has an opening on a top side. Thedevice holder is attached to the compartment for holding a mobileelectronics device. The device holder is movable about a swivel axiswith respect to the compartment between a storage position in which thedevice holder is stored within the compartment and a use position inwhich the device holder extends out from the compartment. The closure isattached to the compartment. The closure is movable relative to the topside of the compartment along lateral sides of the compartment betweenan opened position in which the closure opens the compartment, anintermediate closed position in which the closure substantially closesthe compartment while the device holder is in its use position extendingout from the compartment, and a fully closed position in which theclosure fully closes the compartment while the device holder is in itsstorage position stored within the compartment.

Further, in carrying out the above object and other objects, the presentinvention provides a device holder assembly for use in a vehicle. Thedevice holder assembly includes a compartment, a device holder, and aclosure. The compartment has an opening on a top side. The device holderis attached to the compartment for holding a mobile electronics device.The device holder is movable with respect to the compartment between astorage position in which the device holder is within the compartmentand a use position in which the device holder extends out from a portionof the opening of the compartment. The closure is attached to thecompartment. The closure is movable relative to the top side of thecompartment along lateral sides of the compartment between: an openedposition in which the closure opens the compartment while the deviceholder is in either of the storage and use positions such that theclosure allows the device holder to move between the storage and usepositions; a fully closed position in which the closure covers thecompartment including the portion of the compartment opening which thedevice holder extends out from while the device holder is in the useposition such that the closure prevents the device holder from movingbetween the storage and use positions; and an intermediate closedposition in which the closure covers the compartment with the exceptionof the portion of the compartment opening which the device holderextends out from while in the use position such that the closureprevents the device holder from moving between the storage and usespositions. The closure is movable to the intermediate closed positionafter the device holder has been moved to the use position.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a device holderassembly for being installed in a vehicle to hold a mobile electronicsdevice includes a compartment, a device holder for holding the mobiledevice, and a closure. The compartment is in the form of a storage casehaving an opening on its top side. The compartment is embedded in thetop side of the dashboard of a vehicle. The holder is anchored in thecompartment while being able to swivel relative to the compartmentbetween a not-in-use position and a use position. The holder is storedin the compartment while in the not-in-use position. The holder isswivelled out from the compartment while in the use position. Theclosure is movable to close and open the compartment opening. Inparticular, the closure is movable between an opened position in whichthe closure exposes the compartment opening; an intermediate closedposition in which the closure substantially closes the compartmentopening while the holder is swivelled out from the compartment; and afully closed position in which the closure completely closes thecompartment opening while the holder is stored in the compartment.

The compartment may be installed in the vehicle either during themanufacture of the vehicle or subsequently thereafter. In the lattercase, a receptacle for use with the device holder assembly may alreadybe installed in the interior paneling of the vehicle and covered by ablind plug. The compartment may be dimensioned to accommodate the holdertogether with the device held by the holder within the compartment whilethe holder is in its not-in-use position.

While the holder is in its not-in-use position with or without a mobiledevice, the closure can be moved to its fully closed position tocompletely cover the compartment opening. It cannot be discerned fromthe outside as to whether the closed compartment is simply a storagecase or a storage case containing a holder integrated therein.

While the holder is in its use position with or without a mobile devicesuch that the holder with or without the device is swivelled outrelative to the compartment, the closure can be moved to itsintermediate closed position to close the remaining portion of thecompartment opening. That is, the closure at least substantially closesthe remaining opening of the compartment next to the swivelled-outholder. As a result, other articles which may be in the compartment areclosed off from access.

The holder may bear electrical interfaces such as plug-in contacts forconnecting the mobile device inserted in the holder to the power supplyor other systems of the vehicle. Electrical connecting cables runningfrom the compartment under the trim of the dashboard are not visible toa vehicle user due to the compartment being installed in the vehicle.

The compartment preferably has a width greater than the width of theholder. In this case, the compartment may be used as a storage case forother articles such as eyeglasses, keys, and the like in addition toaccommodating a mobile device. In this design, a user may seek tocompletely close the remaining opening of the compartment while theholder is swivelled out. For this purpose, the closure may have twoclosure extensions which enclose a recess. The closure extensionslaterally enclose the holder which is swivelled out from the compartmentand in the intermediate closed position cover the regions of thecompartment opening between the holder and the lateral boundaries of thecompartment. In order to close these regions of the compartment opening,the closure elements may be provided on the holder itself to coverregions of the compartment opening extending between the holder and thelateral boundaries of the compartment while the holder is in theswivelled-out position. The closure covers the remaining compartmentopening at the back side of the holder and the rear termination of theseclosure elements.

In accordance with an embodiment, the holder may be moved against theforce of a restoring element from its swivelled-out use position fromthe compartment to its swivelled-in not-in-use position in thecompartment. The holder together with the device accommodated therein isthen swivelled-out from its not-in-use position to its use position bythe force stored in the restoring element. The holder is advantageouslykept locked in its not-in-use position. To swivel out the holder, thelock may be released by manually actuating by pressing down on theholder or the device held thereby such that the holder automaticallyswivels out into its use position. The lock is preferably in amechanical linkage with the closure so that the holder is not able toswivel out from its not-in-use position to its use position unless theclosure is in its opened position with the compartment opening beingcompletely opened. The swivel-out motion of the holder may also becoupled to the opening motion of the closure. In this case, the lock isreleased by moving the closure such that the holder automaticallyswivels out from the opened compartment as a result of force from arestoring element.

The closure may have different designs such as a flap, sliding flap, orsliding closure. The closure may be a roller blind closure formed frommultiple articulately connected closure elements. The closure may beformed of individual, mutually displaceable louver-like closure elementswhich may move relative to one another such as in a telescoping mannerto open the compartment and displace the closure in its two differentclosed positions.

When the holder is in its swivelled-out position, the holder may swivelover a limited angular range about a rotational axis extendingtransversely to the swivel axis. This allows a display of the deviceheld by the holder to swivel toward the vehicle driver or toward thefront seat passenger in the vehicle. The swivel-out motion of the holderfrom its not-in-use position in the compartment to its swivelled-out useposition may be associated with a motion compartment thus allowing theholder and the display of the device to swivel toward the driver.

Many mobile devices to be held by the holder have an LCD display withlimited brightness. Therefore, the holder may have a sun shield to shadethe display of a device held by the holder. The sun shield may bedesigned to be mounted manually onto the holder. Alternatively, the sunshield may have a foldable design such that its fold-out and fold-inmotions are mechanically linked to the swivel-out and swivel-in motionof the holder with sun shield being in a desired shading position whenthe holder is swivelled out.

The above features, other features, and advantages of the presentinvention are readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionsthereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a device holder assembly havinga compartment embedded in the top side of the dashboard of a vehicle, adevice holder integrated in the compartment for holding a mobileelectronics device, and a compartment closure in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention in which the compartment is closedoff as the closure is in a fully closed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the device holder assembly inwhich the compartment is fully opened as the closure is in a fullyopened position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the device holder assembly inwhich the compartment is fully opened and the device holder is swivelledout from the compartment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the device holder assembly inwhich the compartment is fully opened and the device holder with amobile electronics device inserted therein is swivelled out from thecompartment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the device holder assembly inwhich the compartment is closed and the device holder with the mobileelectronics device inserted therein is swivelled out from thecompartment;

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d respectively illustrate enlarged detailviews of the device holder assembly in which the device holder togetherwith a mobile electronics device inserted therein is swivelled out fromthe compartment;

FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, and 7 d respectively illustrate enlarged detailviews of a device holder assembly having a compartment, a device holderintegrated in the compartment for holding a mobile electronics device,and a compartment closure in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, and 8 d respectively illustrate enlarged detailviews of a device holder assembly having a compartment, a device holderintegrated in the compartment for holding a mobile electronics device,and a compartment closure in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, perspective views of a deviceholder assembly having a compartment 2 embedded in the top side ofdashboard 1 of a vehicle, a device holder 6 integrated in compartment 2for holding a mobile electronics device 15, and a compartment closure 4in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are shown.Compartment 2 is in the form of a storage case having an opening on itstop side. Holder 6 is anchored in compartment 2 while being able toswivel relative to compartment 2 between a not-in-use position and a useposition. Holder 6 is stored in compartment 2 while in the not-in-useposition. Holder 6 is swivelled out from compartment 2 while in the useposition. Closure 4 is movable to close and open the opening ofcompartment 2. Closure 4 is movable between an opened position in whichclosure 4 exposes compartment 2; an intermediate closed position inwhich closure 4 substantially closes compartment 2 while holder 6 isswivelled out from compartment 2; and a fully closed position in whichclosure 4 completely closes compartment 2 while holder 6 is stored incompartment 2.

In FIG. 1, compartment 2 is closed off as closure 4 is in its fullyclosed position. Compartment 2 is enclosed by a frame 3. Closure 4 isroller blind closure conforming to the curved shape of dashboard 1.Closure 4 includes articulately interconnected elements which are guidedin lateral guide rails. A handle strip 5 projects from one of the bottomelements of closure 4. Compartment 2 is opened by moving closure 4toward the windshield as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. During thismotion, closure 4 is pushed into a storage region behind or beneathcompartment 2. The guide rails which guide closure 4 have acorresponding curvature.

In FIG. 2, compartment 2 is fully opened as closure 4 is in its fullyopened position. Holder 6 is in its not-in-use position withincompartment 2. A strip 7 pivotably links holder 6 to side walls 8 ofcompartment 2. Compartment 2 acts as a storage case by including areceptacle 9 for insertion of a mobile device such as a mobile telephone10.

In FIG. 3, compartment 2 is fully opened and device holder 6 isswivelled out from compartment 2 in its use position. In this position,the front side of strip 7 strikes the interior of the front wall ofcompartment 2. The swivel-out motion of holder 6 is achieved by force ofan actuator which stores energy for swiveling out holder 6 when holder 6is in its not-in-use position. The actuator may be a pneumatic damper.

Holder 6 has a receptacle 11 for holding a mobile electronics devicetherein. Two side members 12, 12′ of holder 6 delimit receptacle 11 inthe direction of the width of compartment 2. Side members 12, 12′ holdand secure a mobile device inserted into receptacle 11. Electricalplug-in connections 13, 14 are in the region of the lower termination ofreceptacle 11. Connections 13, 14 are used for contacting the deviceheld in receptacle 11. For example, connection 13 is used to supplypower to the device and connection 14 is used to connect the device toan onboard information network.

In FIG. 4, compartment 2 is fully opened and device holder 6 with amobile navigation device 15 inserted into receptacle 11. Device 15 isconnected to the vehicle power supply and to the data bus viaconnections 13, 14 to receive power and vehicle-related data such asvehicle speed. In FIG. 5, compartment 2 is closed and holder 6 withdevice 15 inserted therein is swivelled out from compartment 2. Closureelements 16, 17 are integrally molded onto the outer sides of sideholder members 12, 12′ as part of strip 7. The design of the top side ofclosure elements 16, 17 is the same as closure 4. Closure elements 16,17 close the regions of the opening in compartment 2 extending betweenholder 6 and side walls 8 of compartment 2. Holder 6 is secured in itsswivelled-out position by a lock such as a detent mechanism. The depthof compartment 2 facing in the direction of travel is dimensioned sothat holder 6 together with device 15 held thereby may be swivelled intocompartment 2.

Closure 4 is designed so that, instead of being in its fully closedposition completely closing compartment 2 (shown in FIG. 1), closure 4may be brought into its intermediate closed position (shown in FIG. 5).The intermediate closed position is characterized in that the front sideof closure 4 strikes the rear termination of holder 6 and closureelements 16, 17 and is secured in this position. Although compartment 2is closed, holder 6 is in its use position swivelled out fromcompartment 2 and device 15 is ready for use. In particular, in thisconfiguration of compartment 2 being in the top side of dashboard 1,device 15 is in the direct visual field of the driver. The driver isthus able to observe display 18 of device 15 without having to avertgazing from the roadway.

When the vehicle is parked and it is intended that device 15 cannot beseen from the outside, closure 4 is opened and holder 6 together withdevice 15 is swivelled into compartment 2 until holder 6 has beenbrought into its not-in-use position (shown in FIG. 2). Compartment 2 isthen closed by pulling closure 4 forward. From the outside, closedcompartment 2 gives the impression that compartment 2 is a conventionalstorage compartment.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d, with continual referenceto FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, enlarged detail views of the device holderassembly in which device holder 6 together with device 15 insertedtherein is swivelled out from compartment 2 are respectively shown. FIG.6 a illustrates a perspective external and internal view of interior 19of compartment 2. The design of the pivotable bearing of strip 7 in sidewall 8 contains a bearing pin 20. Bearing pin 20 engages in a bearinghole 21 in side wall 8. As shown, closure elements 16, 17 are part ofstrip 7. Closure 4 is in its intermediate closed position closing theremaining opening of compartment 2 and continues to the rear terminationof closure elements 16, 17 and holder 6. Closure 4 is locked in thisposition.

FIG. 6 b illustrates a schematic cross section of holder 6. Thisillustration shows the support system of holder 6 on a first rollerblind element 22 of closure 4. A guide 23 for closure 4 is associatedwith right side wall 8 of compartment 2. Guide 23 has a guide strip 24located beneath closure 4. Closure 4 rests on the top side of guidestrip 24. In the use position of holder 6 swivelled out from compartment2, the back side of holder 6 is supported on a front edge 25 of firstroller blind element 22. As a result of closure 4 being secured in itsintermediate closed position (shown in FIGS. 5, 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d),guide strip 24 forms an abutment for holder 6 which is supported byfirst roller blind element 22. Due to the angled configuration of theplane of the front end of closure 4 with respect to holder 6, whereinthese two elements define an angle of approximately 45°, the lock forclosure 4 only has to withstand a portion of the forces exerted byholder 6 which result in opening of closure 4. These forces interceptedby closure 4 (i.e., guide strip 24) result from the combined weight ofholder 6 and device 15 therein. These forces increase when device 15 isoperated by keystrokes.

FIG. 6 c illustrates a support strip 26 which according to anotherembodiment may be integrally molded onto the back side of holder 6. Thissupport system is shown in FIG. 6 d in an illustration that is enlargedwith respect to FIG. 6 b. Support strip 26 overlaps first roller blindelement 22 when closure 4 is in its intermediate closed position. Forceis then introduced into first roller blind element 22 at approximatelyright angles to the longitudinal extension of guide strip 24. For such adesign, in its position closing the remaining opening of compartment 2,closure 4 in FIG. 6 c essentially requires no additional locking. Thesame effect may be achieved when a strip 27, which is a continuation onthe bottom of the front side of first roller blind element 22, isintegrally molded onto first roller blind element 22, and strip 27engages beneath strip 7 together with its closure elements 16, 17 in theintermediate closed position of closure 4 shown in FIG. 6 b.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, and 7 d, with continual referenceto the preceding figures, enlarged detail views of a device holderassembly having a compartment 28, a device holder 29 integrated incompartment 28 for holding a mobile electronics device, and acompartment closure 30 in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention are respectively shown. Compartment 28 with its holder29 has the same basic design as compartment 2 with its holder 6.However, the design of closure 30 is different with respect to closure4. Closure 30 is a louvered closure whose individual louvers may befolded into one another for opening compartment 2. (Compartment 28 isfully closed in FIG. 7 a and is opened in FIG. 7 b.) Closure elements 31which are integrally molded to the sides of holder 29 have a length inthe direction of motion of closure 30 corresponding to the length of twoindividual louvers of closure 30. FIG. 7 c illustrates closure 30 in itsintermediate closed position closing the remaining opening ofcompartment 28 with holder 29 swivelled out. This illustration showsthat two individual louvers remain in their stored position at the rearwall of compartment 28 and are not needed for closing the remainingopening. FIG. 7 d illustrates a schematic external and internal view ofcomponent 28 closed by closure 30 together with swivelled-out holder 29.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, and 8 d, with continual referenceto the preceding figures, enlarged detail views of a device holderassembly having a compartment 32, a device holder 33 held in compartment32 for holding a mobile electronics device, and a compartment closure 34in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention arerespectively shown. This device holder assembly differs from the deviceholder assembly shown in FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, and 7 d in that individuallouvers 34 of closure 34 may be pushed one inside the other for openingcompartment 2.

In order to improve the introduction of force into the swivelled-outdevice holders 29, 33, support systems as described above may beprovided.

Each device holder 6, 29, 33 may swivel in and out of each compartment2, 28, 32. This allows different device holders to be used with acompartment. Thus, each device holder matching a device may be insertedinto the compartment. The bearing pins engaging in the side walls mayhave adjustment bevels to facilitate insertion of the device holder.

The progression of the electrical cabling for the plug-in connector onthe device holder side may be such that the cabling is mounted on theinside of the strip and guided out through an axial borehole for bearingpin 20.

A compartment such as one of compartments 2, 28, 32 may have two or moredevice holders which may swivel in and out independently of one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Dashboard-   2 Compartment-   3 Frame-   4 Compartment closure-   5 Handle strip-   6 Device holder-   7 Strip-   8 Side wall-   9 Receptacle-   10 Mobile telephone-   11 Receptacle-   12, 12′ Side elements-   13 Plug-in connection-   14 Plug-in connection-   15 Mobile navigation device-   16 Closure element-   17 Closure element-   18 Display-   19 Interior-   20 Bearing pin-   21 Bearing hole-   22 First closure element-   23 Guide-   24 Guide strip-   Edge-   26 Support strip-   27 Strip-   28 Compartment-   29 Device holder-   30 Compartment Closure-   31 Closure element-   32 Compartment-   23 Device holder-   34 Compartment closure

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate anddescribe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the wordsused in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A device holder assembly for use in a vehicle, the assemblycomprising: a compartment having an opening on a top side; a deviceholder attached to the compartment for holding a mobile electronicsdevice, wherein the device holder is movable about a swivel axis withrespect to the compartment between a storage position in which thedevice holder is stored within the compartment and a use position inwhich the device holder extends out from the compartment; and a closureattached to the compartment, wherein the closure is movable relative tothe top side of the compartment along lateral sides of the compartmentbetween an opened position in which the closure opens the compartment,an intermediate closed position in which the closure substantiallycloses the compartment while the device holder is in its use positionextending out from the compartment, and a fully closed position in whichthe closure fully closes the compartment while the device holder is inits storage position stored within the compartment.
 2. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein: the device holder is situated at a distance from thelateral sides of the compartment; wherein the closure has two closureextensions which enclose a recess of the closure, wherein the deviceholder extends through the recess out from the compartment when thedevice holder is in the use position and the closure is in theintermediate closed position.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein: thedevice holder has two closure elements by which the regions of thecompartment between the device holder and the lateral sides of thecompartment are closed when the device holder is in the use position andthe closure is in the intermediate closed position.
 4. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein: the device holder is movable with respect to thecompartment from the use position to the storage position against forceof a restoring element attached between the device holder and thecompartment.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the device holder islocked in the storage position by a lock while the closure is in thefully closed position, wherein the lock unlocks in response to theclosure being in the opened position.
 6. The assembly of claim 1wherein: the closure includes articulately interconnected closureelements which are displaceable to move the closure between the openedposition, the intermediate closed position, and the fully openedposition.
 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the closure includesclosure elements which are adjustable relative to one another to movethe closure between the opened position, the intermediate closedposition, and the fully opened position.
 8. The assembly of claim 1wherein: the device holder includes a receptacle which is laterallyenclosed by a pair of side members for receiving a mobile electronicsdevice inserted therein.
 9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein: elementsfor securing the mobile electronics device inserted in the receptacleare associated with the side members.
 10. The assembly of claim 1wherein: the device holder may swivel over a limited angular range aboutan axis extending transversely to the swivel axis.
 11. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein: the device holder includes a plug-in contact forconnecting the device to a vehicle component.
 12. The assembly of claim1 wherein: the compartment is embedded in the top side of the dashboardof a vehicle.
 13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the closure is aroller blind closure.
 14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the closureis a louvered closure whose individual louvers are foldable into oneanother to move the closure between the opened position, theintermediate closed position, and the fully closed position.
 15. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein: the closure is a louvered closure whoseindividual louvers are pushable into one another to move the closurebetween the opened position, the intermediate closed position, and thefully closed position.
 16. A device holder assembly for use in avehicle, the assembly comprising: a compartment having an opening on atop side; a device holder attached to the compartment for holding amobile electronics device, wherein the device holder is movable withrespect to the compartment between a storage position in which thedevice holder is within the compartment and a use position in which thedevice holder extends out from a portion of the opening of thecompartment; and a closure attached to the compartment, wherein theclosure is movable relative to the top side of the compartment alonglateral sides of the compartment between an opened position in which theclosure opens the compartment while the device holder is in either ofthe storage and use positions such that the closure allows the deviceholder to move between the storage and use positions, a fully closedposition in which the closure covers the compartment including theportion of the opening of the compartment which the device holderextends out from while the device holder is in the use position suchthat the closure prevents the device holder from moving between thestorage and use positions, and an intermediate closed position in whichthe closure covers the compartment with the exception of the portion ofthe opening of the compartment which the device holder extends out fromwhile in the use position such that the closure prevents the deviceholder from moving between the storage and uses positions, wherein theclosure is movable to the intermediate closed position after the deviceholder has been moved to the use position.
 17. The assembly of claim 16wherein: the compartment is embedded in the top side of the dashboard ofa vehicle.
 18. The assembly of claim 16 wherein: the closure is a rollerblind closure.
 19. The assembly of claim 16 wherein: the closure is alouvered closure whose individual louvers are foldable into one anotherto move the closure between the opened position, the intermediate closedposition, and the fully closed position.
 20. The assembly of claim 16wherein: the closure is a louvered closure whose individual louvers arepushable into one another to move the closure between the openedposition, the intermediate closed position, and the fully closedposition.